ARE YOU BEING SERVE
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sometimes, when a haulier needs the help of a trade association, it is obvious who to turn to. A reefer specialist is likely to go to Transfrigoroute which caters for chilled goods operators; removals companies will probably go to the British Association of Removers. But general hauliers are faced with a bewildering choice. Most obviously, they can choose between the Freight Transport Association, which has traditionally attracted large own-account operators and has 13,600 members; and the Road Haulage Association, which has 11,500 members — all hauliers.
But there is also a growing number of small associations which are geared specifically to hauliers with only one or two trucks. Like the FTA and the RHA, many of them charge membership fees of about £100 and offer legal services, insurance policies, and discounts on a variety of products and services.
So which are the best? And, unlike the well-established FTA and RHA, can hauliers rely on these associations to be around in a few years time? Last year the National Hauliers Association, which set out to look after hauliers working out of quarries, was taken to court by Tarmac for illegally organising a strike against the company. It is now almost dormant.
Our review of trade associations which cater for small hauliers may help you decide where to spend your membership fee.
Owne
Operntors
"A company offering services to owner-drivers" (Estd 1987)
COST
£110 a year.
MEMBERSHIP Full members, 480; associate members (no cost), 2,500. Full members tend to be owner-drivers. Associate members are general hauliers who might want advice either for themselves or for their owner-driver subcontractors. For example, one new member has 350 sub-contracted drivers.
ORGANISATION Owner Operator UK was set up by Rob McHugh, a "former owner-driver who got stitched up one day and there was no-one there to help me". He has four full-time staff and three part-timers. McHugh says: "The owner-driver needs all the help he can get. Our attitude is low key. We don't think of ourselves as a trade association or a co-operative — we are a company which offer services to individual customers.
"We have stuck it out; nobody believed we would still be here in three years' time and here we are."
CONTACT Rob McHugh or Wendy Marshall at Bittenam Springs, Ewen, Nr Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 6BY. Phone (0285) 770833.
SERVICES
• Debt collecting. Last year Owner Operators UK collected £50,000 from bad debtors in the UK and on the Continent. It charges 5% commission for the service if it manages to collect a debt without the member having to go to court. If members have to go to court they pay their own court costs. This year 00IJK helped owner-driver Mick Blunt win £17,000 compensation out of the Spanish government for damage to his truck during a border dispute.
*Insurance. Since the start of this month membership has included a legal expenses insurance scheme covering up to £25,000 of legal expenses. A 24-hour legal helpline is also available. There are no extra charges for either of these services. There are also discounts on a range of insurance schemes, including cover for loss of an HGV licence.
• Regional business meetings. These meetings are a chance to hear speakers from the industry and to discuss a variety of subjects.
*Fax service.
*Discounts on services including breakdown recovery and trailer rental. IA subscription refund guarantee, if 00UK fails to provide any services it claims to.
_ cE24 TRANSPORT =USERS GROUP
Here to provide a service to hauliers" (Estd 1990)
COST £99.87 a year.
MEMBERSHIP 1,400, ranging from owner-drivers to hauliers with fleets of up to 100 vehicles; about 60% are ownerdrivers. There are also industrial
members; manufacturers or other transport users.
ORGANISATION TUG has four staff, Robert Sutton, one of the organisers, was previously a driver and then ran his own haulage business. Sutton says: "Our members tend to be 'hard up, and hard done to'. We are also not making a profit and expect to make a loss for several years. We are here to provide a service."
CONTACT Robert Sutton or John Burn at Transport House, Stretford Motorway Estate, Stretford, Manchester M32 OZH. Phone 061-866 8599.
SERVICES
• Debt collecting. Like 00UK, TUG's main service is debt collection. In December alone it collected £12,000 and in January £8,000. TUG does not charge a percentage of the collected debt; the service is included in the membership fee. For us to take more money off the haulier after he has already waited months for payment would cut out his profit margin altogether," says Sutton. *Insurance. Members have to pay for the TUG's vehicle insurance scheme but it includes life insurance. *Access to a blacklist of bad debtors and a credit checking service.
* Finding loads and backloads.
* Advice on rates and routes. *Breakdown service. TUG contact a garage, or BRS Rescue for stranded members, who will then be billed directly by the garage which carries out the repair.
*Legislation updates and newsletters. *Legal helpline.
• Fax service.
*Discounts on diesel, ferries and truck parts.